Do you know of anyone who caught a incurable disease in the O.R.?

[mikethern]

Without naming names of course, do you know of anyone who caught HIV or Hep C from a patient? I'm just wondering how common this is.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

I know of a PA who got Hep C from a needle stick working at the surgical field. I have been stuck a couple of times: once my fault, and once somebody being an idiot. Both times I got lucky and was clear.

Personally, most people who work the OR are extremely conscientious about sharps at the field and I don't think sticks with contaminated sharps happen that often - at least in my experience. From my perspective, you are probably just as likely, if not more likely, to get stuck in the ER for example, where patients are conscious and sometimes combative or flailing around. That's when things get really dangerous! Hopefully in the OR everyone that is in there and conscious is well aware of the danger and take necessary precautions.

[IsseyM]

Know of a surgeon who got Hep C also, one of the scrub techs poked him with a needle while working in the sterile field.

[inspir8tion]

I always double glove when scrubbed in. I have been stuck, but it has only gone through the first glove.

[huckfinn]

I know of a CV SurgeryPA who got a blood drop splash in the eye. She was wearing safety glasses with side protectors but somehow the drop got around. The drop was infected with a herpetic virus. It blinded her dominant eye.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

Huckfinn

You bring up a really good point, you don't have to get stuck or cut to get something bad.

I always try to hold my breath when we are using lasers to zap herpes. Y'all know why!

If we thought about this stuff too hard, we'd probably start driving a truck or something!!!!

[mikethern]

Always wear eye protection when circulating during arthroscopy. It's easy to get used saline in your eyes. I did once. Luckily the patient was healthy.

[ewattsjt]

I always double glove for almost all cases. I catch a lot of flack form co-workers about using supplies and not getting a raise later because I use twice as much gloves. Studies have been performed and to my amazement, it really protects you greater than an single pair ( I think Ansell has some CEUs that deal with it). If you even bleed, the first and second pair “wipe” off the needle so that the risk is minimal.

My scariest scenario was when I was in on a radical mastectomy and was sprayed with a bleeder and It hit the top of my glasses and above by glasses. The blood ran down into my eye. I thank the Lord that my testing came back normal!!! (I still sometimes worry about it though!

[mikethern]

I always double glove for almost all cases. I catch a lot of flack form co-workers about using supplies and not getting a raise later because I use twice as much gloves.

I always double glove. Screw saving money. Biogel makes green indicator gloves that you wear under white gloves so that if you have a hole in your gloves, you will see a green spot.

My scariest scenario was when I was in on a radical mastectomy and was sprayed with a bleeder and It hit the top of my glasses and above by glasses. The blood ran down into my eye. I thank the Lord that my testing came back normal!!! (I still sometimes worry about it though!

Yeah, I think those masks with a built-in disposable plastic visor are the way to go.

[sunnyjohn]

I always double glove. Screw saving money. Biogel makes green indicator gloves that you wear under white gloves so that if you have a hole in your gloves, you will see a green spot.

Yeah buddy. Double gloves all the way. No one looks out for me like me.

[ewattsjt]

mike, we aren’t allowed to wear the indicators but i still double glove.

[mikethern]

mike, we aren't allowed to wear the indicators but i still double glove.

geez, i hope your boss didn't sell your operating room's lead gowns to save money too. i would triple glove out of spite.